Author's Note: Hey everyone! Thank you for reviews! I have an idea forming in my head on something that's going to happen to Ron and Hermione sometime in February during their school year … hehe. Unfortunately, it's not exactly my idea, I got it from the show Even Steven's. Haha I'm pathetic.
Summary: It's September 1st, the day that students are returning to Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione are talking, but barely.
Secrets Kept
Chapter 4
(Ron's POV)
by happythoughts
Ron awoke with a dull headache on the morning of September 1st. He had had another nightmare about Hermione. He had been having them for the past three days, ever since the "kiss." They were usually about him finding himself listening to Hermione talk to Ginny about him. She would say things like, "He is so immature, and he didn't even do anything after I kissed him. I don't know why I did it. I mean, it was hardly a kiss! Oh, I do feel bad for him. He probably thinks that I like him or something. WHY would I like someone like him? I wish Kyle were here with me right now. I miss him so much. He is so much better than Ron."
And the worst thing was, Ron wouldn't do anything about it.
"Finally, you're up. You better get ready quickly, it's already 9:30! We have to leave at 10:15, but we'll probably be at the train station at 10:45 as usual."
Harry was talking to Ron, but he was hardly listening to him talk. He was just trying to get rid of the annoying dream that kept coming to him during nights. How he wished he could have some of that sleeping draught potion that Harry had had at the end of his fourth year that prevented you from having any dreams or nightmares.
He clumsily got out of bed and hurriedly made his bed. He trotted over to his dresser and pulled out some random clothes, not caring if they matched or not.
"You okay, Ron? You don't look too good," said Harry with concern.
"I don't feel good, either," mumbled Ron.
After they made sure that they had packed everything into their trunks, they took their time lugging them down the many flights of stairs. They finally reached the ministry car that Ron's dad had been able to borrow. They took a few seconds to catch their breaths. Unfortunately, during those few precious seconds, Ginny appeared, pulling her trunk along, with Hermione panting behind her.
Ron let out an inward grown, and Harry gave him an exasperated look that said, "Get over it. It was a stupid kiss, and you're being immature."
"Hey guys, help us load these in, will you?" asked Ginny, wiping the sweat from her brow.
"Sure," they both said in unison. Harry bent down to pick up Ginny's trunk, leaving Ron to pick of Hermione's. He stared at it like it was the most frightening thing in the world.
"Ron, are you going to help me or not?" asked Hermione, getting irritated by the second.
"Er … I guess so?" said Ron.
"Then c'mon now, get this side and I'll get the other. Ready? On the count of three. One, two, three—Ow! Ron! Watch it!" said Hermione, rubbing her right foot.
"Sorry Herm! I didn't mean to, it slipped!" said Ron apologizing. He had accidentally dropped the trunk right onto Hermione's foot, because he had been trying to ignore the fact that she was wearing makeup.
They finally got the trunk into the back seat of the car and they all walked back to the Burrow to have some breakfast.
~*~*~
"Do be careful everyone, won't you?" asked Mrs. Weasley worriedly. They were all standing in front of the Hogwarts Express, waiting to get onboard.
"Yes, mum, we'll be okay. Stop worrying," said Ron.
"Well, you know how it is now. I don't want anything to happen to you," she said.
"Mum, you can trust us!" said Fred.
"I'm not too sure about that, Fred," she said, pursing her lips and crossing her arms across her chest.
They laughed heartily and finally began to board onto the bus. "I packed sandwiches for everyone, goodness knows all you will be eating from the candy tray … don't worry, Ron, they're not cornbeef …"
Ron rolled his eyes as he walked ahead of Hermione, Ginny, and Harry to find a compartment for them. He fortunately found one quickly and took an immediate seat right next to the window. Soon after, Harry sat across from him and Ginny took the seat next to him, meaning only one thing.
"Oh my, I'm still full from the breakfast, you're mum made us! I don't think I'll need anything to eat until the feast!" exclaimed Hermione, plopping down next to Ron, rubbing her stomach.
Ron tensed up. Their seats were awfully close to each other, barely enough room for his right arm.
"Ron, scoot over, will you? I'm almost off the seat," said Hermione.
Of course, I'd do anything to get away from you. He thought angrily in his head. He jammed himself against the window. He was angry. Why was she acting like the kiss was nothing? Of course, it was only a peck, but if people said that she liked him, wouldn't she think it was a big deal?
For the next few hours, Harry and Ron talked animatedly about Quidditch and how the houses were going to do this year, and Ginny and Hermione talked about nothing in particular. Ginny grew tired and to Ron's outrage placed her head on Harry's shoulder, sleeping peacefully, with a little smile on her lips.
Harry must have sensed Ron's anger and said, "Ron, calm down."
He let out a disgruntled grunt and crossed his arms, turning look outside the passing meadows. He would never get used to Ginny and Harry being cuddly and loving to each other. Never.
And there was only one more person who could make his day worse than it was already. Malfoy.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Potty, Weasel, Mudblood … and what do we have here? Who is this ugly girl laying her head on Potty's shoulder?" he said coolly, with Crabbe and Goyle behind him.
No, please go away, Malfoy. I don't need you to worsen my bad mood. "Get the bloody hell out of here, Malfoy," Ron said angrily.
"And who is stopping me? I'm about to barf up some slugs if I see any more of this ugly girl cuddling next to an ugly boy named Potty," said Malfoy mockingly. "Come along," he said, motioning for Crabbe and Goyle to follow him out of their compartment.
"Good thing that didn't last too long," said Hermione gratefully. "You really should control your temper, Ron."
Ron merely grunted in anger. What was she doing, telling him what to do? And he didn't have a temper … did he? "I don't have a temper, Hermione," he said.
Harry let out a noise that sounded like, "Yeah right!"
Ron turned to Harry. "What? I don't, do I?"
"Well, you do get upset easily, Ron, over stupid things," said Harry, edging into something else.
"What are you implying, Potter?" asked Ron, his temper getting to him.
"Just little things get you heated up, if you know what I mean," said Harry again.
"Harry, stop it…" said Hermione warningly. Even she knew what he was talking about.
"No, tell me what you mean, Harry," said Ron, now growling.
"See what I mean? You're getting heated up again!" said Harry. "I made my point."
"Oh shut up," said Ron angrily, finally defeated. His ears perked up. "At least I'm not the one wearing makeup!"
"I should hope not!" sniggered Harry.
"I'm talking about Hermione. She's the one wearing makeup," said Ron, pointing at her face.
"Ron, I'm a 15 year old teenager. I'm allowed to wear makeup incase you haven't noticed," said Hermione knowingly.
"Yeah but …" began Ron.
"But what?" asked Hermione.
You're not supposed to wear makeup. You're Hermione. You don't need makeup. You're perfect the way you are. Thought Ron in his head. How he wished he could simply say that to her face.
"You don't need to wear makeup," he said finally. He wanted to raise a triumphant fist in the air. He had complimented her! Unfortunately, Hermione didn't take it as one.
"Ron, you have no right to tell me whether or not I can wear makeup! You aren't my master, you can't control me. And just because you don't think I am a girl doesn't mean I'm not. I'm 15, a girl, and I can do whatever I want to do without you telling me what to do," she said angrily. She hmphed and turned away.
Good going, Ron.
~*~*~
(Hermione's POV)
Hermione was both angry and successed. She was angry because of Ron's confrontation about her wearing makeup. How dare he tell me what I can and can't do! But she was happy because she and Harry had finally confronted Ron about his temper and he had finally given in about it. It's not like she didn't like his temper. She actually thought it was kind of cute how his ears got so red and his cheeks flushed up so quickly. His dark blue eyes would sparkle with anticipation and … Hermione, get a hold of yourself!
Embarrassed by what she had just been thinking in her mind, she returned to reading Standard Book of Spells, Year 5. Ron had resorted to staring out of the window after their argument to avoid talking with anyone, and now he was peacefully sleeping. Harry had placed his arm around Ginny's shoulders and was sleeping with her, his head on top of hers. A pang of jealousy escaped into Hermione's body, wishing that she had such a loving boyfriend like Harry. NOT that she liked him or anything. No, no, Harry was just a friend. Her mind returned to an intimate moment with Kyle while she was in Australia …
Hermione and Kyle were running along the beach, their feet barely touching the water. They were holding hands, swinging their arms wildly, and laughing. They stopped to catch their breath and started walking back up to the dry sand. They plopped down on their towels, grinning widely.
"This place is so beautiful. I wish I didn't have to leave so soon," said Hermione sadly.
"Then don't! You don't have to leave, Hermione! You can stay here and live here all of your life with me!" burst out Kyle hopefully.
Hermione was taken back. "What in the world are you talking about, Kyle? I can't live here with you! I have family, school … and … friends," she said, thinking about Ron and Harry mostly when she said the word friends.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean to say that, it just came out," said Kyle embarrassingly.
Hermione shook her head to get rid of the memory. She couldn't think about Kyle right now. She rummaged through her bag and pulled out her diary and began to write about the past few days at the Burrow.
Dear Diary,
I in the train right now so forgive me if my handwriting in a bit messy. Ron, Harry, Ginny, and I have a compartment all to us. Ron is sitting next to be, sleeping, and his head on the window. Harry and Ginny are sleeping across from me. They're cuddling. I hate to admit this but I couldn't help but feel a bit jealous of them. I wish I had a caring boyfriend like Harry, but not him. Someone like Ron …
For the past few days, Ron and I have been getting in stupid fights about stupid things. I always hope that he will finally admit that all of the fights are about the "kiss" that I gave him that first night I was at the Burrow. Really, it was a little peck. I don't know why it's such a big deal, but it is. He just won't admit it, and to my outrage, neither will I.
Like for instance, while we were just talking, Malfoy came in and insulted us as usual, and Ron said, "Get the bloody hell out of here, Malfoy." So when Malfoy left, I told Ron that he should control his temper, and he got angry with me. So he asked Harry if he had a temper, and Harry said, "Well you do get except easily, Ron, over stupid things." And guess what he was trying to insinuate. Exactly.
So Ron got angry and confronted me about wearing makeup. He said that I shouldn't be wearing makeup and that I don't need to. He is so rude! He can't control me! Now we are once again avoiding each other. I just wish that everything would go back to normal. I wish I had never—
Ugh, sorry about that. Ron woke up without me noticing and I finally caught him trying to peer over my shoulder trying to read what I was writing! How rude! Here's what happened.
Ron awoke. He yawned quietly and saw that Harry and Ginny were still sleeping. He turned his head and saw Hermione writing in some sort of book. He dared to take a look, so he scooted a tiny bit closer to Hermione, trying to see over her shoulder. Unfortunately, he couldn't read anything because the handwriting was so messy, not like the usual Hermione.
"Ron! What are you doing?!" exclaimed Hermione, finally noticing him.
Ron jumped back. "S-sorry. I didn't know what you were doing!"
"You could have asked politely, you know. You didn't have to read it," said Hermione angrily. She had snapped the book shut. "It wasn't important anyway."
"Then why couldn't I read it?" asked Ron. Ah-ha! He hit the jackpot.
"Because … b-because! You just can't, okay? Leave me alone," said Hermione angrily.
And that's what happened. Ugh! He can make me so angry sometimes! Suppose he had read some of it? Oh my, I'd be mortified! Okay well, I don't want him to expect anything so I'll have to stop now.
More later,
Hermione.
~*~*~
(Ron's POV)
Hours later, they arrived at Hogwarts. Ron's stomach was rumbling, all he had had was the sandwiches that Mrs. Weasley had made for them for the train ride there. He could almost taste the yummy feast food that was waiting for all of them in the Great Hall.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked up the marble steps into the hall of Hogwarts. Ron looked over at Harry, who looked like his face was saying, "I'm finally home again."
They hurried over into the Great Hall and found seats. Ginny was sitting with her friends down a little further the table. They went through the whole ritual of the sorting hat. Ron always enjoyed seeing the first year's frightened faces and the joy whenever they were sorted into the house that they wished for. After the ritual, Dumbledore stood up and began to speak.
"Welcome back for another year at Hogwarts! I have a few announcements before we begin to eat. Don't worry, they won't be long," he added, hearing the groans of the hungry students.
"For the first years, the Forbidden Forrest shall not be entered. Also, all Care of Magical Creatures classes shall be postponed until our Keeper, Hagrid, returns. And with that, dig in!" he said cheerfully.
"That's weird, they didn't even introduce Mad-eye Moody," Ron said thoughtfully.
"That's because most of the students don't know about Crouch taking his place, Ron," said Hermione. She looked at him with warning eyes and then looked over at Harry, who was looking uncomfortable right now.
"I guess Hagrid hasn't returned from his assignment with Madame … whatever her last name was," said Harry.
"Guessh not!" said Ron. He sprayed Harry and Hermione with a few mash potatoes from his mouth.
"Ron! Watch it!" said Harry. He wiped the sprinkles off of his face.
"Sowwy," muttered Ron, his mouth still full.
After the feast, Ron and Harry returned to their dormitories with Seamus, Dean, and Neville. "It's great to be back, isn't it?" said Dean wistfully, jumping into his comfy bed.
"Yeah. It's much safer here than out there," said Seamus.
Everyone was quiet for awhile. "Oy! Did I tell you? I met a girl while I was in Greece for the summer!" said Seamus excitedly.
"What was she like?" asked Neville.
"She was hot, Neville. I mean it. You don't find many like her," answered Seamus longily.
"Does she beat Fleur?" asked Ron.
"Mm… I don't know. That's hard one to answer. I don't think anyone is hotter than Fleur, though," said Seamus.
Everyone nodded their head in agreement except Harry. Hey, he had a woman. A woman named Ginny.
"How about you, Harry? How was your miserable summer with the muggles?" asked Dean.
"Actually, it was better than usual," answered Harry.
Ron grunted. "Yeah, he was owling my sister everyday."
Everyone gasped in surprise. "Yeah Harry! Dating your best friend's little sister! Way to go!" exclaimed Dean, slapping Harry on the back.
Harry shook his head.
"I bet you didn't like that much, did you, Ron?" asked Neville.
"No, he didn't. He practically sent me a howler when he found out. Said that I was saying profanity to her," said Harry, laughing.
"Ah, shut up, Harry," said Ron.
"Hey, at least I have a girlfriend, Ron," said Harry coolly.
"Hey, I'm not the only one! Neville doesn't have one either!" said Ron triumphantly.
Neville shuffled in his bed. "Actually, Ron …"
"WOAH! Don't tell me you have one too, Neville!" said Ron surprised.
"Yeah, I met one at the beach one day while I was with Gram," said Neville, blushing furiously.
"Woo-hoo! Go, Neville!" exclaimed Dean.
Ron fell into silence and was only half listening to the rest of the boys' conversations. Great. Even Neville hooked up during the summer. Like I'm going to tell them that Hermione, the know-it-all, pecked me on the cheek. I bet that they've all gotten more than a peck. I'm pathetic.
~*~*~